College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Galatians 4:12-15
Appeal Galatians 4:12-20
TEXT 4:12-15
(12) I beseech you, brethren, become as I am, for I also am become as ye are. Ye did me no wrong: (13) but ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you the first time: (14) and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. (15) Where then is that gratulation of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
PARAPHRASE 4:12-15
12 Brethren, I pray you to continue in friendship with me; for I am your true friend, having reproved you from love, and not from resentment. For all the time I was with you, ye injured me in nothing.
13 On the contrary, ye behaved towards me with the greatest respect and affection. Ye remember, certainly, that under a bodily infirmity, which might have rendered my labours ineffectual, I preached the gospel to you at first.
14 Yet my bodily infirmity, which was a temptation to me, ye did not ridicule, neither did ye reject me with abhorrence as an imposter, but received me as an angel of God; nay, ye received me with as much respect as if I had been Christ Jesus himself.
15 Great then was your happiness, and much did ye think yourselves obliged to me for the doctrines I taught you: For I bear you witness, that if it had been a thing allowable, and could have done me any good, ye would have plucked out your eyes, and have given them to me.
COMMENT 4:12
I beseech you
1.
Up to this point he has been scathing: he has rebuked, called them fools, and crucifiers, but now he changes tactics.
2.
The preacher is exhorted to use all methods. 1 Timothy 4:2
become as I am for I also became as ye are
1.
Some think he means affection here. Feel toward me as I feel toward you.
a.
MacKnight refers to 2 Chronicles 18:3, where these expressions denote the most strict friendship.
b.
It is certainly a personal appeal.
2.
Others think -I was a Jew zealously addicted to the law rites, etc., and became like you.-'
3.
Paul often appealed to brethren to imitate him. 1 Corinthians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 3:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:7
Ye did me no wrong (Ye have not injured me)
1.
There is nothing personal in it.
2.
The damage had been done to themselves.
3.
They had withdrawn from Christ, it was more serious than some harm to Paul.
COMMENT 4:13
the first time
1.
According to Acts 16:6; Acts 18:23, Paul visited the region twice.
2.
His illness had something to do with his preaching there on the first occasion.
because of an infirmity
1.
Suggestions of what the infirmity was.
a.
Perhaps it was a temporary illness.
b.
Perhaps he never recovered from his blindness entirely.
c.
Perhaps it was sorrow over death of his wife.
d.
Perhaps a result of being beaten, etc.
2.
Paul's infirmities mentioned.
a.
b.
COMMENT 4:14
and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh
1.
Perhaps they were tempted to kill him as they did in Lystra. Acts 14:1-28
2.
Perhaps they tried to worship him as they did at Lystra. Acts 14:12
3.
The Catholic Bible says, a trial to you in the flesh.
a.
He was a care to thema burden.
b.
As though he were a burden to themhousing, support, etc. This, to me. is strained.
4.
The context in the following verses encourages one to believe that the events of Acts 14:1-28 might be referred to.
5.
Whose temptation?
a.
My temptation appears in several ancient manuscripts.
b.
Your temptation appears in the Vulgate and Coptic.
c.
Temptationsignifies trial of any kind.
ye despised not nor rejected(Literally: to spit out)
1.
MacKnight Yet my bodily infirmity which was a temptation to me, ye did not ridicule, neither did ye reject me with abhorrence as an imposter, but ye received me as an angel of God.
2.
They did not despite the temptation to kill him at first, but sought to kill, or sought to worship him, is to be considered.
3.
Perhaps it means you did not despise my physical condition although you might have been tempted to do so.
but ye received me as an angel of God.
1.
They demonstrated their zeal at Lystra.
a.
Paul healed a cripple there. Acts 14:10
b.
When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. Acts 14:11
2.
It is possible that this refers to their hospitality.
Even as Christ Jesus
1.
Received him as of God, even as they did Jesus of God.
a.
Worshipped him as they later did Christhowever this may not have been universal in Galatia.
b.
They did receive him as universally as they did Christ and overlooked his infirmity.
2.
Now they are not so enthusiastic.
RECEIVED ME AS ANGEL OF GOD 4:14
Paul's converts in Galatia had originally accepted him as an angel and even as Christ Himself. It seemed that when false teachers made havoc of the flock, that he was suddenly an enemy by telling them the truth. (Galatians 4:16)
The Jewish teachers who traveled the earth attempting to destroy the work of Paul, undoubtedly felt that they were doing God a service. The debates, envying, strifes, backbiting, whisperings, swellings, and tumults which usually accompanied their efforts, however, indicated that they were to be accursed in Galatians 1:8-9.
There are two types of wisdom in the world. One is from the earth and brings misery, heartache, and despair. The other is from above and brings joy unspeakable and full of glory.
An anonymous writer has penned concerning the Bible: It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Such claims, although extraordinary, remain understatements.
WORD STUDY 4:14
The temptation (peirasmospie rahss MOSS) was a real test of the Galatians-' love for Paul. It was not a temptation to sin, but a testing of devotion.
Dioscurides, a physician of the 1st Century, wrote of the testing or trial of drugs to see their effects in certain diseases.
To despise (exoutheneoex ooh thin EH oh) is to treat with contempt and reject. This was how the soldiers treated Jesus in Luke 23:11, and how the builders rejected God's cornerstone in Acts 4:11.
To reject (ekptuoek PTOO oh) is literally to spit out. As a precaution against contamination, the ancients would spit at people with various ailments, especially epilepsy. Whatever it was that Paul had, the people were strongly tempted to despise and spit out at Paul.
COMMENT 4:15
Where then is that gratulation of yourselves?
(Where is then the blessedness ye spake of)
1.
How much happier you used to befor once you spoke of your blessedness. (Clarke says no sentence is so variously translated)
a.
Having renounced the gospel you have lost your happiness.
b.
Perhaps they had writen to him telling in a joyful manner their new position.
2.
The word gratulation means, joycongratulations.
for I bear you witness
1.
The good joy that you had was in relationship to me and the gospelnot in the law.
2.
Paul had seen joy with his own eyes, now they need not speak of any other joy.
that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me
1.
Clarke says Dearer than one's eyes or Give one's eyes was a proverbial saying.
2.
Some think this was Paul's infirmity and they would have given their eyes to him. McGarvey feels Paul speaks as though he needed eyes.
3.
Paul mentions a thorn in the flesh but does not name it. 2 Corinthians 12:7
STUDY QUESTIONS 4:12-15
482.
Does the word beseech indicate a change in Paul's method to reach them?
483.
Does he mean that they are now in a position that he left?
484.
Was their falling a personal thing to Paul?
485.
To whom was the damage of falling most harmful?
486.
Did Christ suffer by their falling?
487.
How was Paul infirmed?
488.
Was it through infirmity, or because of it, that he preached?
489.
Which preaching is referred to here?
490.
Was he recuperating while there, and therefore preached to them?
491.
What temptation is referred to?
492.
Did they originally have several attitudes toward Paul?
493.
What events in Acts may be referred to?
494.
Is Paul's temptation or their temptation referred to?
495.
Do you suppose the Galatians knew exactly what was meant?
496.
Explain ye despised not nor rejected.
497.
Tell of their acceptance of Paul as a heavenly being.
498.
Could he be reminding them that they were a changeable people even in their attitude toward him?
499.
Did they receive him as though he were Christ?
500.
Define gratulation.
501.
Has Paul accused them of losing their joy?
502.
Explain I bear you witness.
503.
Were they once extremely devoted to Paul?
504.
Does the mention of eyes indicate Paul had had eye trouble while in their presence?